Silvertips bringing back Constantine?

EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips’ search for a new head coach is coming to a close and there’s mounting evidence that the Tips have plucked a revered name from their past to guide the team in the future.

Everett has called a press conference for Thursday to announce its new head coach, and speculation is that former Silvertips coach Kevin Constantine will be the man introduced.

A team spokesman refused to comment Tuesday on the rumors Constantine would be hired as Everett’s new head coach. However, indications are Constantine will be returning for his second stint with the team.

The press conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Everett Events Center.

Everett has been without a head coach since January, when Mark Ferner was fired after one-and-a-half seasons. General manager Garry Davidson served as interim coach for the remainder of the campaign.

Early speculation about Everett’s vacant head coaching position centered on Portland assistant coach Travis Green. However, Constantine’s name surfaced as a candidate two weeks ago. Then earlier this week Kamloops Daily News sports editor Gregg Drinnan reported Constantine would be returning to man Everett’s bench. Since then, multiple sources have reinforced the notion Constantine will be the Tips’ new coach.

Constantine was the first coach in Silvertips franchise history and was hugely successful during his four seasons in charge from 2003-07. The former NHL coach guided Everett through a magical expansion season, when the Tips won the U.S. Division and Western Conference championships, and he earned the WHL’s Coach of the Year award for his efforts. His teams won division titles in three of his four seasons at the helm, and Everett won the Scotty Munro Trophy for the league’s best record in 2006-07.

Constantine departed Everett in 2007 to become the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros, the affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, where he spent three seasons. Last season he was coaching HC Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss professional league before being fired in October. He served as a consultant with HC Ambri-Piotta the remainder of the season.

Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at NickHPatterson.